Friction-clutch.



PATENTED JUNE 12, 1906.

H. s. @L c. E. GLENN.

I FRIGTION CLUTCH.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 10. 1902.

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E, n@ a ab 1 MW UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIO-E.

HARVEY S. GLENN AND COULTER E. GLENN, OF NEW KENSINGTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

FRlCTlON-CLUTCH.

Patented June 12, 1906.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that we, HARVEY S. GLENN and COULTER E. GLENN, citizens of the United States, residing at New Kensington, inthe county of Westmoreland and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Friction-Clutches, of which the following is a speciiication.

This invention relates to friction-clutches for pulleys, gears, &c.; and it consists in a novel construction of the same whereby a tendency to go into operation through centrifugal force is obviated and other important advantages are gained.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the invention, Figure 1 is a face view or elevation of a band-wheel provided with the improved clutch, the actuating-lever being shown in section Fig. 2, a section in a vertical plane just one side of the shaft and parallel with the axis thereof; Fig. 3, a view similar to Fig. 1 except that the shoes are thrown out of binding or effective position; Fig. 4, a detail view illustrating the action of the sliding collar and clutch-actuating lever Figs. 5 and 6, detail views of the yoke and its supporting or carrying plate.

The present invention is the result of observations made in the practical use of a clutch employing segmental friction lates or shoes to bear against the inner sur ace of a wheel-rim and a toggle device for forcing and holding the shoes in contact with said surface. Under the construction hitherto commonly employed the arrangement of arts has been such that rapid rotation o the wheel generating centrifugal force in the clutch members has caused the toggle to be straightened and the shoes to be pressed more or less firmly into contact with the wheel-rim, thereby clutching the Wheel to its shaft inopportunely. In well-drilling, where this difliculty has been particularly observed,

the consequences are apt to be quite serious at times. Hence avoidance of such unintended clutching is quite important.

Brieiiy stated, the invention consists in introducing between the toggle and the lever which controls it a yoke or link rotatable with the clutch and passing to the side of the shaft opposite that at which the toggle is located, so that centrifugal force shall act equally (or substantially so) in opposite directions, and thus neutralize the tendency to straighten the toggle. This construction also permits greater clearance to be given the shoes than was practicable before and gives other material advantages which it is unnecessary here to enumerate.

Referring again to the drawings, A indicates a pulley or wheel of any suitable character having a rim a, the inner face of which affords a friction-surface for clutch-shoes B B. The shoes B B, of any suitable material, are curved to conform on their outer surfaces and throughout a considerable portion of their length with the curvature of the inner surface of rim a, as best seen in Fig. 1.

To support and carry the shoes there is4 keyed or otherwise made fast upon the shaft C, which carries the wheel or pulley, a plate D, having an elongated hub b. One end of the plate D extends nearly to the interior of rim a and is advisably slotted to receive the tenoned ends of shoes B B, as indicated in the drawings.

E indicates a yoke or bail having a central opening slightly wider and considerably longer than the diameter of the hub b, which it encompasses. The upper end of the yoke or bail, as the parts stand in the drawings, is formed with a slot c to receive a guiding stud or pin d, carried by plate D, and it is further provided with two pins or studs e. and f at or near its upper and outer extremities. The pins or studs e and f serve as means of attachment for links F and G, constituting a toggle, which links are in turn pin-jointed at their outer ends to the respective frictionshoes B B. Pin or stud d not only guides the yoke E, but also carries in front of said yoke a washer g, retained by a small split pin h, by which the yoke is prevented from moving out of proper plane. The lower end of yoke E, as the parts stand in the drawings, is formed with a slot or seat to receive one end of an actuating-lever H, fulcrumed in lugs or ears i, formed on hub b. The opposite or outer end of lever H is connected by a two-part link I, with a collar J, splined or feathered upon shaft C, and consequently free to slide, but not to turn thereon. Collar J is circumferentially grooved to receive the studs or rollers of the usual shifting-lever, by which it IOO may be shifted from the position shown by full lines in Figs. 3 and 4 to that indicated by dotted lines in the latter figure.

Stud or pin d is preferably screwed into a threaded hole or socket in plate D, and the several pins connecting the toggle-links With the yoke E and With shoes B B and connecting lever H with the yoke E are preferably retained in place by split pins passing through them. This guards against any loss of the fastening pins or bolts and against undue tightening or binding of nuts, as may sometimes happen in the case of bolts.

The use of the two-part link I permits suitable adjustment of the parts to be made to bring them into proper initial position or to com ensate for Wear.

Obviously the Wheel or pulley, the shoes, and other parts may be made of any usual and Well-known material suitable for the purpose.

A collar K or other suitable shoulder or abutment serves to prevent longitudinal movement of the Wheel or pulley on the shaft C.

Having thus described our invention, We claiml. In combination With a shaft and with a wheel or pulley free to rotate thereon and relatively thereto, a plate or support secured to said shaft; friction-shoes pivoted to said plate and adapted to be pressed outward into contact with the interior face or surface of said Wheel, links connected with the free ends of said shoes, a yoke or bail rotatable with the other clutch member, passing about the shaft and connected with the links and free to move in the direction of its length or at right angles to the axis of the shaft; and means to actuate the yoke by force applied from the side of the shaft opposite to that on which the links are located.

2. In combination with a wheel having a circular opening or interior space, and with a su porting-shaft C upon and relative to whicli said Wheel is free to rotate 5 a supporting-plate D carried by and made fast to the shaft shoes B, B pivotally connected at one end With said supporting-plate,l links F, G connected with the opposite ends of said shoes, a yoke or bail E encompassing the shaft, rotatable With the other members of the clutch and connected at one end with the links F, G g and a lever H connected with the opposite end of said yoke or bail and serving to move the same longitudinally to straighten or bow the toggle formed by the links F, G, substantially as described.

3. In combination with shaft C, and wheel A loose thereon supporting-plate D,- shoes B, B pivotally connected with said plate; links F, G jointed to the free ends of said shoes, yoke or bail E pivotally connected with said links and encompassing the shaft C and movable in the direction of its length,

lever I-I pivotally connected with the yoke- E; sliding collar J g and link I connecting said collar and lever H.

4. In combination with shaft C, and wheel A loose thereon; supporting-plate D; shoes B, B pivotally connected with said plate; links F, G jointed to the free ends of said shoes, yoke or bail E pivotally connected with said links, encompassing the shaft C and movable lengthwise of itself lever H pivotally connected with the yoke E,l sliding collar J 5 and an adjustable link I connecting said collar and lever H.

5. In combination with` a shaft and With a Wheel or hub loose thereon, a clutch-support fixed upon said shaft, a movable clutch member carried by said support and a yoke, movable in the direction of its length, carried by the clutch-support, connected with the clutch member at one side of the shaft and extending thence to the opposite side of said shaft, whereby the tendency of centrifugal force to apply the clutch member is in greater or less degree neutralized and actuation of said member from the opposite side of the shaft is made practicable.

6. In combination with a shaft, a wheel or hub loosely mounted thereon, a clutch-support rigidly secured to said shaft; clutch members carried by said support, and a yoke movable in the direction of its length, carried by the clutch-support, connected at one side,

of the shaft to said clutch members, and eX- tending thence to the opposite side of the shaft, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof We have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

HARVEY S. GLENN. CGULTER E. GLENN.

Witnesses:

G. A. MARK. U. S. COPE.

IOO 

